I’m glad Ruairi Quinn has admitted he got it wrong in relation to the new third-level grant payment system.

It has been an absolute shambles and the Minister owes it to students to ensure all problems are ironed out next year and everyone receives their grants on time.

We cannot have a situation whereby cash-strapped students have no money to feed themselves never mind pay for books or other essentials like accommodation and heating.

There is little point in having a grant system if it is not operated properly.

It is too late for those who have already been forced to drop out of college during the year because of the fiasco.

When the Minister established the new system, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), last year he billed the process as “quick and easy”.

Prior to its introduction, students had to apply to one of 66 local authorities and VECs for grants.

Mr Quinn said at the time: “Many students have had to wait for lengthy periods for their grants in the past and faced undue hardship as a result of these delays.

“Now, once they are approved, they will receive monthly electronic transfer into their bank accounts during the academic year.”

How he had to eat those words because despite the anticipation of it being an improved service, SUSI turned out to be a lot worse than the old system and resulted in chaos, hardship and heartache for those who didn’t get their payments on time.

It’s been a huge embarrassment for Ruari Quinn and I really hope he does everything that needs to be done to ensure no students have to do without next year.

The Minister acknowledged this week there “was a lack of understanding of the task involved” when the City of Dublin VEC got the contract.

He has held his hands up and vowed “not to take his eye off the ball this year”.

Let’s hope this is one pledge he keeps.

Mr Quinn has already let students down by breaking his pre-election promise not to increase third-level fees.

He has also slashed the amounts paid to students. The very least he can do is ensure those who are entitled to financial support get it when they should.

Slimmer is worth weight in gold

The 30-year-old has managed to shed 18 stone in just 19 months through Slimming World.

At a time when obesity is on the rise in Ireland, the Dundalk woman is living proof that if you really want to slim down it can be done.

At her heaviest the blonde beauty weighed almost 33 stone but after being told by her doctor she was on the verge of a heart attack, Brianan made a decision that would ultimately change her life when she joined Slimming World in October 2011.

Poignantly, the bubbly young woman says she is only starting to live her life now after struggling with her weight for most of her 30 years.

By sharing her remarkable story, Brianan will have reached out to countless other people who thought they were doomed to a life of feeling miserable.

She has shown what can be achieved with positive thinking, determination and the right support.

So if you are feeling down because you’ve piled on the pounds, think about Brianan McEnteggart and believe anything is possible.

Leaving Certificate a real dread

I sat my Leaving Cert 30 years ago and I still get the odd nightmare about it.

I wake up in a cold sweat before realising it’s only a dream and, thank God, I don’t have to go through it again.

And it’s not even that I felt unduly nervous during the couple of weeks of the state exams.

But still it was drilled into us about the significance of the Leaving Cert, the importance of doing well so we could make good lives for ourselves.

Most people who sat the test will tell you they still get nightmares about it because it was such a stressful time.

And no one is more aware of that at the moment than the class of 2013.

Wednesday is D-Day, the start of the Leaving Cert, it’s what this year’s students have spent the past 13 years of their education working towards.

It is a momentous thing. But before they let the nerves kick in, my advice to students would be to take a little step back and realise it’s not the be all and end

all.

Understandably, everyone wants to do well. But if things don’t go as planned and you don’t get the points for the course you really want, don’t despair.

Now more than ever there are lots of back doors into college courses to enable students to pursue their dream careers.

So don’t let the nerves take over, own every exam you sit and give it your best shot.

And come August if you don’t get the results you desperately want, at the very least you won’t have any regrets.

If you really want something badly enough, you will get it. Just remember that whatever happens, there is life after the Leaving Cert.